About CYT Classes - Where the fun begins!

Every session (Fall, Winter and Spring) CYT Baton Rouge offers 10-week theater arts classes to children & youth ages 5 – 18. These two hour after-school classes are held once a week. On the final week of classes, students will display a portion of what they've learned by participating in a SHOWCASE for family and friends.

*AGE REQUIREMENT:
- You must be 18 through the entire session to be eligible to take classes and audition.
- You must be in school (elementary, middle or high school). Once you graduate from high school, you are no longer eligible to participate.

Enrolled students, ages 8 – 18, have the opportunity to audition for a CYT Broadway-style musical!

Younger students may serve as ushers at CYT shows, and students ages 14 and up may work on a backstage crew. You must be enrolled in a CYT class in order to be eligible to audition for a show.

*WAITLIST NOTE If the class your child wants to take is full, please email classes@cytbatonrouge.org and request to be put on a waiting list. Waitlists do not guarantee that you'll get in the class, but if an opening is available you must be on the waitlist to get into the class.
How to register for Classes

Details about this Class session


NOTE: Classes are on Monday nights.

Registration for FALL 2026 Classes will open on August 6. YOUTH Classes open at 7pm and TEEN classes open at 8pm.

FALL CLASSES start on Monday, August 24 and run for 10 weeks. Showcase is held on Monday, October 26, 2026.

LOCATION:  Bethany Church: South Campus, 11107 Honore Ln, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

TIMES: We offer two time slots:
Act 1: 4:15-6:30 pm
Act 2: 6:15-8:30 pm

COST:  $220

The Baton Rouge Class Coordinator is Ashley Ardoin: classes@cytbatonrouge.org

PLEASE NOTE: The enrollment age is the child's age as of the class start date. Special considerations will be made on an individual basis for students who have birthdays soon after the session starts.
How to register for Classes

Current Classes:

Class: Age: Chapter: Location: Day: Time: Start: End:
4:15 TEEN Musical Theatre 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
4:15 TEEN Stunts and Combat 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
4:15 YOUTH Acting 100 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
4:15 YOUTH The Art of Auditioning 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
4:15 YOUTH Voice 200 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:15pm - 6:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
4:45 Our Gang 5-7 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 4:45pm - 6:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 ALL AGES Hair and Makeup 8-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 Stage Design: Creating with Purpose 10-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 TEEN Acting 200 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 TEEN Building your Comedic Character 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 TEEN Improv 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 TEEN Musical Theatre Jazz 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 TEEN Voice 200 - Boys 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 TEEN Voice 200 - Girls 13-18 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 YOUTH ASL for Theatre 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26
6:15 YOUTH Musical Theatre Jazz 8-12 Baton Rouge
(Fall 2026)		 Bethany Church South Campus Mon 6:15pm - 8:30pm Aug 24 Oct 26

How to Register for Classes


Set up a Family Account before you register for classes
  1. Click on the "person" icon at top right corner of our website (to right of "DONATE" on any page).
  2. Click on "NEW ACCOUNT" in the pop-up window.
  3. Fill out the information required, with the parent's info first.
  4. To add a child to the account, click on the +Family Member button.
If you are already have a Family Account, then (while logged in) follow these steps:

Register for Classes
  1. Go to the "Classes" page
  2. First select your "Student's Age"
  3. Click on the Class Name of your choice
  4. Click on the "Register Now" button
  5. Select the family member that will be in the class
  6. You will now have an option to sign up for audition times. Auditions are not required.
  7. If you don't sign up now, you will have that option later in your family account
REGISTRATION TIMES:
August 6, 2026 @ 7:00 pm - YOUTH CLASSES
August 6, 2026 @ 8:00 pm - TEEN CLASSES

Refund & Late Fee Policy


Refund Policy

  $25    Processing fee on all refunds prior to first day of class or camp.
 
  $20    Additional fee for refunds requested within two weeks of first day of class or camp.
(Please note that we hire our teachers based on enrollment, and if students withdraw within two weeks before classes start CYT still has to pay the teachers that were hired.)
 
  No refunds after the first day of class.
 
  No class tuition refunds for students who audition for a show.
 
Late Fees

  $25    Late registration fee is applied one week before classes start, so please register as early as possible.


 

Current Teachers:

Caitlyn Guiffreda

I'm excited to bring American Sign Language to the youth students of CYT! I have been interpreting church services for over 25 years and have a passion for helping others discover the beauty of sign language. Because ASL is a visual language, theatrical expression plays an important role in bringing signs to life and communicating meaning. In this class, students will learn everyday signs, develop expressive signing skills, and discover how movement and facial expressions work together to tell a story. Throughout the session, we'll also learn a song in ASL that students will perform at the end-of-session showcase.

Caroline Butner

Caroline is thrilled to be teaching at CYT! She has been trained in dance for 19 years at locations including Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, Phyliss Guy Dance Center, and CYT. She has performed in numerous shows throughout the Baton Rouge area. Her favorite roles include Annie in Annie jr, Queen Sabor in Tarzan, and the Wardrobe in Beauty and the Beast. She is so excited to share her love of dance with her students!

David Louviere

David is an Emergency/Critical Care Registered Nurse with a passion for the arts. While studying Vocal Performance at Southeastern Louisiana University, he performed regularly in community theatre and in Southeastern’s Opera and Musical Theatre Department, where he met his wife, Mandy. David is committed to fostering the love of music and theatre in others; he is a CYT Teaching Artist, teaches voice at a homeschool co-op and serves as one of the worship leaders at his church. David counts it an abundant blessing to have his wife and his four children flourishing in the CYT community and is thankful for the opportunity to serve the cast of Narnia as Music Director.

Donna Iverstine

Donna loves theater and has worked and performed with various theater companies since college. She has directed CCT's Godspell, as well as CYT’s Lion King, Jr., Tuck Everlasting, Tarzan, Peter Pan, Shrek the Musical, Mary Poppins, and Beauty & the Beast. Donna has also worked as assistant director, choreographer and set designer for several shows. She also serves as a CYT instructor teaching Acting, Dance, Improv, ASL, Stunts/Combat, etc. She is the Improv Team coach. For her day job, Donna is an acting and improv coach which she enjoys seeing actors and dancers, young and old, grow in their God-given talents and giftings.

Jeff Elliott

With a background in Industrial Design, Graphic Design, and 3D Animation, Jeff’s largest role at CYT has been creating sets and working backstage during CYT productions. Over the years his involvement has expanded to include teaching several CYT classes, assistant directing High School Musical, and directing shows such as Rapunzel & Mary Poppins. He was blessed to perform in the CCT productions The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Fiddler on the Roof, and to direct the CCT production of Singing in the Rain. His prayer is that God will be glorified as we laugh together and learn to share our talents bringing joy to others.

Lily Vinson

A Hockey Reporter and Miss Louisiana Titleholder, Lily is no stranger to the spotlight. She has been involved with CYT in the past as hair and makeup for Tarzan and has siblings who has been in multiple CYT shows. She has always had a passion for music, being on her worship team as a vocalist and a pianist. She has a horse named Baron and a dog named Theodore. Newsies is her very first show and she is looking forward to making memories and singing songs from her favorite musical.

Mandy Louviere

Mandy's love for theatre began behind the scenes as a stage manager and technical theatre stagehand in the Opera/Musical Theatre Department at Southeastern Louisiana University, and after a long time away she found her way back in to the wings. These days, when she's not coordinating a show or cheering on young performers, she's homeschooling, carpooling to dance, enjoying an iced coffee (because there's never a wrong time for coffee!), and making memories with her husband of 22 years, David, and their four children. One of Mandy's favorite things is doing CYT/CCT as a whole family, because why have one theater kid when everyone can catch the theater bug? Her favorite CYT/CCT productions have been Cats and Fiddler on the Roof, though choosing just two is almost as hard as picking a favorite show tune. Mandy is thrilled to serve on staff with CYT Baton Rouge as Show Coordinator and as a Teaching Artist.

Melissa Beatty

Melissa has a passion for teaching youth theatre. She grew up doing theatre with The Drama Room and with DSACT in her hometown of Denham Springs. She has directed and assistant directed multiple musicals over the years. She joined the CYT family 5 years ago and has taught CYT youth acting classes and youth musical theatre classes. She was the assistant director for CYT's The Lion King Jr and Anastasia YE she made her CYT director's debut with Charlotte’s Web. She is so excited to be the director of CYT’s Seussical this season. She loves sharing her passion for theatre with the youth of CYT. She believes that God had gifted each child with special and unique gifts and loves helping children discover and grow those gifts. She is so honored, humbled and grateful to God for allowing her the opportunity to share the gifts He has given her with CYT!

Rebekah Knight

A passionate storyteller, Rebekah received her B.A. in Theatre from LSU. She is an energetic acting coach who loves helping kids develop their potential. She has directed many shows for CYT, including Annie, The SpongeBob Musical, and Matilda. Some of her favorite past acting credits include Godspell (Disciple), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Narrator), and Shrek The Musical (Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy). Outside of her work at CYT, Rebekah is a wife and mother who enjoys quality time and quality coffee.

Tadd Swart

Tadd was born in California, and moved to Louisiana in 2008, where he lives with his wife, Elaine, and their two children, Asher and Primrose. His love for theater started with skits while on mission trips but grew in high school, where he got to perform in Les Mis, Noises Off, Assassins, and Pirates of Penzance. He has been in classical education since 2008. In the summer of 2026, he had the great honor of playing Tevye in CCT Baton Rouge’s Fiddler on the Roof.

Teresa Whitaker

Teresa has choreographed several productions for CCT, including Godspell, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Singin' in the Rain (co) as well as CYT’s Mary Poppins and The Little Mermaid . A former LSU Golden Girl, Teresa also danced professionally with Merv Griffin Enterprises. She owned Elite Dance School and continues to share her passion by choreographing musicals, local productions, and teaching Musical Theater Dance classes. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." — Philippians 4:13